The F Word: Issue 1

THE FWO RD!

In This Issue:

Meet the Team An Interview with Chloe Boland Take Back the Night New Year Tarot Reading Poetry & Art Submissions A Brief History of Zines Women & Witchcraft

MEET THE TEAM Chloe Boland

Chair of FemSoc

Pronouns: she/they What feminism means to me: To me feminism is about destroying the patriarchy, fighting for a more equal world, and practicing self-love and compassion Favourite feminist(s): bell hooks; Ailbhe Smyth Feminist book rec: Feminism is for Everybody by bell hooks Feminist film rec: Legally Blonde (dir. Robert Luketic, 2001)

Kate O'Flanagan

Editor

Pronouns: she/her

What feminism means to me: Feminism is central to my life. The empowerment of women and other marginalised people is integral to the creation of a more just and equal world.

Favourite feminist(s): There is no such thing as a perfect feminist. That said, I draw inspiration from many different women and groups within the feminist movement. Angela Y. Davis is a revolutionary icon. And as a woman in STEM, with a particular love for chemistry,I can’t not mention Marie Curie.

Feminist book rec: Rebel Women by Rosalind Miles; The Gracekeepers

by Kirsty Logan Feminist film rec: Blow the Man Down (dir. Bridget Savage Cole; Danielle Krudy, 2019) is a noir film that centres women and brilliantly subverts staple tropes of the genre. I love it so much!

Olivia O'Keeffe Pronouns: she/her

Deputy Editor & Liason Officer

What feminism means to me: For me, feminism is something that benefits everyone. It's ultimately equality for all, which is a goal everyone should strive for. Everyone should be a feminist in my opinion.

Favourite feminist(s): Mary Wollstonecraft Feminist book rec: The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood Feminist film rec: Legally Blonde (dir. Robert Luketic, 2001)

Gloria Cardozo

Deputy Editor

Pronouns: she/her What feminism means to me: To me feminism is empowerment, by demanding and creating equal rights and equal opportunity in the social, political, economic, and domestic spheres. It is also about encouraging and supporting each other as we try to manifest the end goal: an equal society for all.

Favourite feminist(s): Gloria Steinem; Indira Jaising Feminist book rec: A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen; Little Women by Louisa May Alcott Feminist film rec: Hidden Figures (dir. Theodore Melfi, 2016)

Ciara Corbett

Deputy Editor

Pronouns: she/her What feminism means to me: To me, feminism is about working together to create a fairer and more equal society/world to live in.

Since coming to college and joining the Feminist Society, I have seen the power of intersectionality and collaboration in feminist work to bring change in UCC and the wider community. Feminism is about working together, listening and hearing each other's voices, elevating others' experiences and taking these experiences and turning them into an affirmative change.

Favourite feminist(s): Audre Lorde Feminist book rec: Feminism, Interrupted by Lola Olufemi Feminist film rec: Erin Brockovich (dir. Steven Soderbergh, 2000)

Méabh Lonergan

Photographer

Pronouns: she/her What feminism means to me: It's impossible to quantify in any meaningful sense, it's a vehicle to channel my anger and fear and love, a sisterhood and a survival mechanism.

Favourite feminist(s): There is no perfect feminist, and I'm always scared to name them for fear of idolisation of the individual in activism, or for overlooking their flaws! I've read bits of Audre Lorde and bell hooks recently and loved their work, but the feminists which inspire me most are the friends and activists I have found in UCC and further afield.

Feminist book rec: I'm a little ways through Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendall right now and enjoying it, Life of The Party by Olivia Gatwood will always get me, and I Am Malala was my first feminist book (even if Malala did not call herself that at the time) and so will always hold a soft place in my heart.

Feminist film rec: I'm v basic, so Legally Blonde takes the cake, but on a softer note, Dumplin' (dir. Anne Fletcher, 2018) is mine and my friends' comfort movie.

Aoife Power

Designer

Pronouns: she/her What feminism means to me: At its core, feminism to me is the simple idea of equality between all genders. But feminism must also work hard to ensure that this idea of equality isn't exclusive to those who look a certain way, but goes further and ensures intersectionality between all races, genders, sexualities, religions and so forth. Feminism means uplifting the oppressed and ensuring they have an equal chance to make their voices heard.

Favourite feminists(s): Ruth Bader Ginsburg; Frida Kahlo Feminist book rec: The Colour Purple by Alice Walker; The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood Feminist film rec: Has to be Legally Blonde!

Roan Kershaw Pronouns: she/her

Social Media Officer

What feminism means to me: Feminism is fighting for the basic rights that people oppressed in society don't have, like walking alone at night, going on nights out and having access to basic healthcare. While feminism has started through fighting for women's rights, to me it also means fighting for others who are marginalised in society, and being a feminist means we fight for all people who don't have the rights that we are still fighting for.

Favourite feminist: Zarah Sultana Feminist book rec: Period Power by Maisie Hill feminist film rec: Thelma and Louise (dir. Ridley Scott, 1991)

An Interview with Chloe Boland Master’s Student Chloe Boland talks to our Editor Kate O’Flanagan about her personal journey with feminism and what she hopes to achieve as the Chairperson of UCC’s FeministSociety (FemSoc).

Do you remember when you first became cognisant of feminism as a concept? Not only that, but also when you first became aware of gender based injustice and biases?

I actually love this question because my relationship with feminism is really interesting, I guess, because I hated it for years. I think I was very lucky as a child that my parents shared all the jobs at home and both worked full time, and so that was normal for me. I didn’t see an unequal division of household duties at home. And as I got older my mum, who was a chef, would tell me how she was never taken seriously as a chef and even if she was the best in the kitchens she worked in, she was never head chef; it was always a man. And I was like...“Okay. That’s wrong. That’s really annoying,” because I knew how good of a chef my mother was.

And then in school it was the little things like “I need a strong boy to carry these chairs for me,” and I was like, “Well, I’m going to carry more chairs than any of the boys,” I couldn’t, but I forced myself to do it because I wasn't going to be left out. It was just little things that made me think "I don't like this".

I first came across the word ‘feminism’ on Tumblr, a microblogging platform. And it was always in a really, really negative light. It was stuff like, “Oh, the feminazis are taking over,” and it was the same with the media at that time. Feminism, and feminists, were never portrayed about as a good thing.

It was always like, “The evil feminists want to take over the world, they hate men, etc.” And I was like “Oh, okay, I don’t like feminism so.”

But then I kept seeing it. And I was like, “What the fuck is this thing everyone is talking about?” So, I looked it up. I think it was the Merriam-Webster definition. It was something like ‘equality for all genders’ and I was like... yeah? That seems very obvious. That should be a thing!

That feels like ... common sense Exactly! That should exist. But then I couldn’t understand why it was such a negative thing for so many people, which made me very shy about calling myself a feminist. I’d be like, “I believe in gender equality, but I’m not a feminist.” And I think it stayed like that for most of my teenage years. As I got older, I found better communities of feminists online which made me think, “Okay... this is cool.

These are good people. I think I might be a feminist.” But it was really around the Marriage Referendum and Repeal the 8th that I found communities of feminists and became comfortable calling myself a feminist, and taking pride in that label. Especially when it came to Repeal the 8th.

I went to a really rural Catholic school so the debates we had over that made me realise that

"I need to be a feminist because the people around me just weren’t getting it."

Coming up to the Marriage Referendum we weren’t allowed to say which side we were voting for. I couldn’t vote, I wasn’t old enough.

But we weren’t even allowed to have an opinion. We weren’t allowed to have ‘Yes’ badges – God forbid! It was the same coming up to Repeal. We just weren’t allowed to talk about it. We had one teacher who would let us discuss it, but with the rest of them it was like it wasn’t happening. And that was so wrong to me.

I knew coming into college that FemSoc existed and I knew that I had to get involved.

At that point all this feminist energy had been building in me for a couple of years and I really wanted to have a place where I could channel it.

I guess it’s interesting because

"for a long time I didn’t like feminism because it had such a negative connotation and portrayal in the media. I was terrified of it, to be quite honest."

I feel like that is the experience of a lot of women, particularly in our age group, because we grew up with access to the Internet and various social media communities which opened us to different perspectives. It feels like the general public awareness of feminism has shifted towards a more positive interpretation in recent years.

I think it definitely has in recent years, which is very good.

Obviously you’re the Chairperson now, but when did you join FemSoc? And how has being involved in the society changed your engagement with feminism?

I signed up for the society on First Year and went to a few events. I was really awkward and socially anxious at the time, which hindered my ability to get involved properly.

Then in Second Year, which would have been 2019, I pushed myself because it was something I really wanted to do and I joined as an Ordinary Commitee Member (OCM).

Being part of FemSoc has allowed my feminism to grow so, so much. Just being around so many feminists and like-minded people and being able to learn from them has been absolutely amazing. It has given me the chance to learn about issues that I probably wouldn’t have even thought of. I think that is one of the best things about the society. Because while we’re all feminists and have a common goal, we’re all coming at it from different places and backgrounds.

Everyone has specific interests or topics that they’re particularly knowledgeable about and through one person holding an event on a certain topic, you get to learn about. FemSoc has taught me a lot about issues that I wasn’t necessarily aware of before I joined.

It has also given me an outlet to really get involved in activism. As I said I grew up in rural Ireland, there weren’t opportunities to really get involved. Unless it was sharing things online or arguing with people in Religion class...

The universal Irish feminist experience.

Yes! So, the society has enabled me to take action and have a material impact on causes I care about.

Outside of the society studying Feminist Philosophy in Second Year was also a major influence. I absolutely loved it. Doing that module made me want to do more with feminism in an academic field, hence why I’m doing my Master’s in Women’s Studies. So now I’m coming at feminism from an activist and an academic perspective.

You’re almost a full semester into it now, what do you hope to achieve in your tenure as Chairperson?

Oh, this is a hard question. I want to achieve everything! I want to eliminate gender equality! Though that’s obviously too big of an undertaking for a college society. One of the biggest aims I came into my position with is wanting to make feminism more inclusive and accessible. One thing I’ve definitely learned about feminism is that, throughout history, it has excluded a lot of different groups of people. It has excluded women of colour, it has excluded disabled people, it has excluded transgender people.

Even lesbians, who are given the stereotype of ‘the evil man hating feminist’. If you actually look at the history of the movement you realise that lesbians were excluded from mainstream feminism for so long.

Exactly! Feminism for so long, especially Second Wave feminism, was very much focused on white, straight, middle-class, able bodied housewives. That was feminism! And that is not enough. I think a lot needs to be done so that feminism involves everyone.

And feminism also needs to be accessible.

Something we’re really trying to do this year is make sure that our events are accessible.

Like, literally making sure they’re accessible in that people can physically come to the events.

"But we also try to show that feminism is for everyone and we make sure that our feminism is intersectional."

That is a general aim for what I want to do with FemSoc this year.

So far I think we have been a doing a good job with that and we’re going to continue with it for the rest of the semester and going forward into Semester Two.

Do you have any examples of the steps you’ve taken within the society and in regards to the events to make them more intersectional and accessible?

One thing that was very good that FemSoc did a few years ago was introduce an Accessibility and Welfare Officer. Their main job is ensuring that buildings are accessible and that people can come to events. For inperson events, where possible, we’ve introduced the option for people to attend online. We found last year that having everything online made it a lot easier for certain people to show up. Whether because they’re commuting and can’t be there in the evenings or the building where the event is being held is inaccessible to them.

Inaccessibility on campus is a huge issue.

Coming back to in-person events has been a real learning curve, from dealing with COVID restrictions to picking the most accessible rooms.

Collabing with other societies and seeing where people outside of FemSoc are coming from with their feminism has also been really valuable. The collaborations show that we’re open to hearing what other people have to say, which is always important for any form of activism.

I have noticed this semester that there has been an increase in collaborations between FemSoc and other societies, including a monthly collaboration with the LGBTQ+ society.

These collaborations seem to be a clever way of widening the scope of FemSoc.

It is really great to get to collab with so many different societies. We love the LGBTQ+ society, we have a lot of overlap in members.

We did a lot of collaborations last year too.

Not only does it give us new perspectives, but it allows us to bring feminism to societies that maybe haven’t thought about feminism before.

It gains you access to people who might not necessarily come to a solely FemSoc hosted event, for whatever reason, but would be more inclined to participate when it’s integrated into a society they’re already involved in.

It’s definitely a good way to get what we’re doing out to more people. And we get to have fun while doing it too.

Under you the society has a good sense of feminism being an engaging, inspiring topic that can bring joy to your life, even if it can feel like it’s doom and gloom constantly.

It does feel like that a lot of the time. Even at the moment, hearing everything to do with the spiking cases is so disheartening. It feels like we tackle one issue and then, suddenly, there’s another one.

Any type of activism can be incredibly difficult; when you’re fighting so hard and feel like nothing is changing.

We do want to be able to have fun with it too, because it can be fun. It’s a great way to meet other people, if nothing else. Being able to introduce that element is really nice. Just creating a space for our members to blow off steam.

Striking a balance is important. Nothing will change if everyone is burnt out.

You mentioned before that you’re doing your Master’s in Women’s Studies. What originally drew you to the discipline?

I think I knew pretty much immediately that it was what I wanted to pursue once I learned that Women's Studies exists as a course in UCC. Any chance I got throughout my undergrad to incorporate feminism or talk about gender. Even my dissertation for Politics was ultimately about gender. I’m so glad I chose Women’s Studies, I just absolutely love it.

Your enthusiasm for the topic is infectious. Do you have any advice for others who may be interested in Women’s Studies? ’d just say go for it. I knew it’s what I wanted to do but for a long time I had anxieties about getting a job and what other people would think, like, “What will people think when I say I’m doing Women’s Studies? They’re just going to laugh.” But there’s no point in doing something you’re not interested in solely because ‘it’s more employable’ or whatever – there are so many types of jobs. There are an awful lot of jobs in the gender equality discipline. There’s no point in worrying about what other people think if it’s something that you, ultimately, want to do. It’s such a broad and interesting course. You can really do so much with it.

Women’s Studies is a very misunderstood academic discipline by the wider public, most often being used as a punchline. What do you think is the most common misconception about Women’s Studies?

That it’s useless, that it’s pointless, that it’s not worth doing. These couldn’t be further from the truth. A lot of people do just go into research with Women’s Studies, but their research is absolutely fundamental to the application and future of feminism.

There is a very strong link between the academic and activism sides of feminism. The research being carried out is necessary.

Beyond that,

"there is a very real need for gender equality in literally every single field and we need experts in the topic to be able to achieve gender equality across the board."

That’s one cool thing about the course. It’s an interdisciplinary course with people coming from so many different backgrounds. We have people coming from a Speech and Language background, from Politics, Philosophy, Business, Social Science – everywhere. And whether they stay in their original field or move to a different one, there will be a need for gender equality specialists regardless. Women’s Studies is definitely not a useless degree.

Now I’m going to use one of your favourite questions when you are interviewing people for positions on FemSoc; Who is your favourite feminist?

I can’t pick just one. I ask this question all the time and I can’t even answer it myself! I’m going to say bell hooks and Ailbhe Smyth. bell hooks is a feminist theorist. She wrote ‘Feminism is for everybody’ and it was the first feminist text that I studied when I did Feminist Philosophy in Second Year. One thing that I absolutely love is that she writes in such an accessible way. Academic texts aren’t always the easiest to read but she doesn’t write in that way. She doesn’t sacrifice depth for accessibility either, she tackles all the issues that she needs to. I absolutely adore her.

And then Ailbhe Smyth. She’s an Irish feminist and LGBTQ+ activist. She set up Women’s Studies in UCD and has dedicated her life to being a feminist and an activist. She’s iconic.

She is one person who has definitely inspired what I do. I interviewed her earlier this year for the Shona Project and I could genuinely talk to her for hours. One thing that I really love that she does, besides having devoted her life to fighting for feminist causes in Ireland, is that she is very good at recognising her own privilege as a white woman. She advocates for the intersectionality that is so important for feminism, and a lot of white feminists don’t do that. She has always unapologetically been herself and fought so hard for whatever she believed in. It wasn’t always easy for her to that, but she did it anyway. I think she’s so inspiring and I just love her.

That seems like a good place to end the interview. Thank you so much for talking to me, Chloe.

WITCH BITCH

Women, Witchcraft & the Patriarchy "If you are a woman and dare to look inside yourself, then you are a witch." ― Mona Chollet, Witches: The Undefeated Power of Women Ciara and Gloria discuss the persecution of witches throughout history and how it informs the modern punishment of women who refuse to conform to patriarchal values.

The meaning of being a witch has evolved throughout history.

Popular opinion suggests a practitioner of the dark arts, a sorceress, an old hag, evil, scary and the list goes on. Children are taught to fear witches who fly on broomsticks, cast spells, own a black cat, and cuss around.

Both the fascination and fear attached to witches and unknown forces are centuries old and kept alive in popular culture media. Where did the idea of witches come from, what have they turned into, and what does this mean for women?

The King James Bible, Exodus 22:18 states, “Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.”

The aforementioned biblical phrase consciously gave society a license to kill without being held morally reprehensible.

However, the phrase has been mistranslated. The original Hebrew word ‘Pharmakia’ translates to poisoner. Nevertheless, the suspected practise of witchcraft led to the persecution and killing of those accused. A 'witch'

could be rich and poor, young and old, female and male; though women were the more often accosted.

The overarching societal values of the time dictated the treatment of those considered to be witches. The Christian Church adhered to the idea of witchcraft as a threat to their way of living.

The Puritans thought women should have babies, raise children, manage household life and model Christian subservience to their husbands. Recalling Eve and the apple, Puritans perceived women to be weaker beings more likely to be tempted and susceptible to the Devil’s false charms. SHOCKER! The question persists; how did one identify a witch? Most of the accusations stemmed from neighbourly quarrels. Those who were quick to have their egos hurt would simply throw in an accusation of witchery.

Scholars suggest witches were not prosecuted because they were women but rather, certain categories of women were persecuted because they were believed to be witches.

Those accused of witchcraft mostly happened to be women who were well aware of botanical sciences, widows, single, childless

and older women.

Menopausal and postmenopausal women were also considered as being in tandem with the Devil (so basically a woman who was anything). In the Salem Witch Trials of 1692, one of the most prolific witch hunts in history, 14 of the 19 people killed were women.

These needless and baseless executions scared women and forced them to remain within boundaries set up by a god-fearing society.

Witches were women who did not fit the acceptable mold set out for womanhood. They were women who chose to, or were rather forced, to challenge the social norms of an era tied up in a patriarchy and clerical misogyny.

Although portrayed in the vilest imagery, the witch is a symbol of Strength and Courage. It is a sacrifice paid in blood for the freedom of will and autonomy. The witch is no different from the contemporary independent woman.

Mona Chollet in her upcoming book states that to date modern society frowns upon a woman who happens to be single, childless, and old. The only exception to the contemporary woman is that, unlike her medieval counterpart, she will not be burnt at

the stake or physically abused until she accepts her damned independence. She will instead be put through a fine lens of what is acceptable, judged, and labeled. Whilst Society may no longer accuse women of being witches, or burn them at stake, the underlying misogyny and patriarchy remain present, as well as the punishment suited for modern times.

The contemporary woman and witches alike are villainized as harbingers of chaos, lust, temptation, evil, and are blamed for society’s misgivings. Most women who stand up for themselves are quickly reduced to negative connotations as arrogant, shameless, aggressive, bossy, domineering, demanding, or simply a f**k**g Bitch. Women who choose to live life by their terms breaking away from social and cultural constructs require neither our condemnation, our authorization, nor our surprise! They seek to be left at their own devices.

The treatment of witches in a time gone by is not that different from the treatment of women today. Women of today find solace in the characterization of a witch and their struggle for freedom in a society that deemed them undeserving of it.

Reaching Out (In Thought).

Hold me, A tired burden, that’s not yet ready.

Someone, squeeze the sadness out of me!

Wring me out, wrap me up.

Please, This griefcase is heavy and harder to carry the longer I lift it alone.

— Eimer Crowley

Turn on Your Camera!

In my bedroom looking into a screen Don't scream we are not at war Don't scream you are not on the frontline Oh so there's a frontline to this non war?

Don't scream this will all be over by the summer When will the economy recover Don't scream just get on with it

— Sarah O’Mahony

‘Take Back the Night’ is an international event and non-profit organization with the mission of ending sexual, relationship, and domestic violence against women in all forms. Below is the transcript of the speech given by Jessica Dalton at the UCC FemSoc ‘Take Back the Night’ vigil held on 13/10/2021. Photographs courtesy of Méabh Longergan.

Good evening everyone, my name is Jessica Dalton. I am this year's Campaign Officer for the UCC Feminist Society. I would like to thank you all for coming to tonight's vigil, so that we can think about and remember the victims of domestic and sexual abuse both in the UK and Ireland.

A lot of you here tonight will recognize the name Sarah Everard, the woman who was brutally raped and murdered by a member of the London Metropolitan police, Wayne Couzens. Sarah was only trying to walk home. She was only walking home when her murderer pulled up beside her and coaxed her inside the car under the false pretence that she was under arrest for violating COVID restrictions. This was a callous, and evil crime committed by someone who was supposed to protect the public. Instead of being protected by the police, Sarah Everard was murdered by one of them.

13% of women were killed by a stranger.

Sarah Everard's murder, as well as Sabia Nessa’s, are an uncomfortable reminder to women everywhere that we are not safe. It is yet another reminder to us that no laws have been enacted to prevent violence against women, and indeed that those who are meant to protect us, even care about us, perpetrate that violence against us.

A report published this year showed that An Garda Síochána ignored 3,000 emergency calls in relation to domestic abuse. This is disgusting, inhumane, and a disgrace to Ireland. We deserve better.

Women’s Aid Femicide argues that every day 137 women are lost at the hands of a partner or member of their own family.

No woman deserves to die, or to be blamed for what she was wearing and what she was doing when something bad happened to her. Women don’t need a rape whistle.

We don’t want to carry our keys between our fingers in case we might need them to defend ourselves. We don’t want to worry about our friends the second they leave our house, and we don’t want self-defence classes. Women want, and we need, change. It is not up to women to stop men from attacking us, it is up to men to stop hurting us. No one deserves to lose their life, and no woman deserves to be a victim of gendered violence. This is such a difficult conversation to have, and to keep having, and I hope someday that we’ll all be safe to walk at night-time without the fear of getting home.

62% of all 244 women murdered in Ireland have been killed inside their own homes, a place that should be safe for them to exist in without the fear of harm.

Thank you all so much for coming out tonight, I now invite you all to light a candle or to say a prayer for those victims of sexual and domestic violence.

Flash forwards a few months, we see the name Sabina Nessa trending everywhere, and in all newspaper headlines. Another woman, victim to a senseless murder at the hands of yet another man. In front of me tonight are the names and faces of all 81 women murdered after Sarah Everard.

87% of women, where the case heyas been resolved, were killed by a man known to them.

Ashling Murphy. Urantsetseq “Urnaa” Tserendorj. Mary O'Keffee. Sharon Bennett. Jennifer Poole. Eileen O'Sullivan. Fabiole Camara De Campos. Zeinat Dashabsheh. Elzbieta Piotrowska. Jasmine McMonagle. Cathy Ward. Skaidrite Valdgeima. Valerie French Kilroy.

Nadine Lott. Jean Eagers. Neasa Murray. Seema Banu. Clodagh Hawe. Kitty Fitzgerald.

Nicola Collins. Samantha Walsh. Amy McCarthy. Saoirse Smith. Rita Apine. Patricia O'Connor. Linda Evans (Christian). Antoinette Corbally. Anne Colomines. Rose Hanrahan.

Joanne Ball (Lee). Natalia Karaczyn. Anastasia Kriegel. Jastine Valdez. Giedre Raguckiate.

Ingrida Maciokaite. Amanda Carroll. Jolanta Lubiene. Aleksandra Sarzynska. Patricia Kierans. Susan Dunne. Sara Staunton. Sonia Blount. Mary Dargan. Mairead Moran. Lynn Cassidy. Antra Ozolina. Carol McAuley. Marie O'Brien. Kathleen Cuddihy. Angelique Belling. Valerie Greaney. Jane Braidwood. Anne Shortall. Marie Quigley. Natalie McGuiness. Brigid Maguire. Marian Horgan. Breda Waters. Marie Greene. Katarzyna Barowiak. Noreen Kelly Eadon. Deirdre McCarthy. Diane Burroughs. Ann Henry. Veronica Vollrath. Rudo Mawere. Melanie McCarthy McNamara. Sarah Regan. Mary Ryan. Siobhan Stapleton. Elizabeth Duff. Jacqueline McDonagh. Elaine O'Hara. Anna Finnegan. Aoife Phelan. Olivia Dunlea O'Brien. Deirdre Keenan. Nicola Vonkova. Kezia Gomes Rosa.

Carmel Breen. Noeleen Brennan. Yvonne O'Shea. Celine Cawley. Rebecca Hoban. Sharon Whelan. Anne Corcoran. Joan Vickers. Tracey O'Brien. Carmel Marrinan. Eugenia Bratis.

Brenda Ahern. Lisa Doyle. Rebecca French. Joselita De Silva. Loradena Pricajan. Catherine Smart. Breda Cummins. Helen Donegan. Sarah Hines. Alicia Brough. Karen Guinee. Sheola Keaney. Breda Ryan. Melissa Mahon. Meg Walsh. Baiba Saulite. Rose Patterson. Ciara Dunne. Anne Marie O'Neill. Sara Neligan. Mary Sleator. Jean Gilbert. Sharon Coughlan.

Amanda Jenkins. Manuela Riedo. Joanne Mangan. Marion O'Leary. Ciara Ní Chathmhaoil.

Sylvia Roche Kelly. Marioara Rostas. Lorraine Flood. Lorraine Crowley. Ms Jamie Farrelly Maughan. Paiche Onyemaechi. Lynette McKeown. Mary Walsh. Elizabeth McCarthy.

Rachel O'Reilly. Marguerite O'Dwyer. Colleen Mulder. Celia Bailey. Irene White. Emer O'Loughlin. Mary Hannon. Catherine McEnery. Frances Ralph. Ann Walsh. Rosemary Dowling. Regina O'Connor. Amy Farrell. Rebecca Kinsella. Siobhan Kearney. Donna Cleary. Grainne Dillon. Joan Power. Rosie Collinson. Nichola Sweeney. Niamh Murphy.

Nora Kiely. Carmel Coyne. Mook Ah Mooi. Christine Quinn. Sasha Pimosieje. Jean Scanlon. Marie Bridgeman. Cliona Magner. Natasha Gray. Lindita Kukaj. Georgina Eager.

Xiang Yi Wang. Ann Flynn. Attracta Harron. Dolores McCrea. Joan Casey. Janet Chaney.

Rachel Sandeman. Nancy Nolan. Jennifer Donnan. Maeve Byrne. Rachel Keily. Dearbhla Keating. Jean Reilly. Jennifer Wilkinson. Sandra Collins. Susan Prakash. Mary Whelan. Lui Quing. Teresa Joyce. Debbie Fox. Geraldine Kissane. Margaret Fahy. Linda Dunne. Bettina Poeschel. Lorraine O'Connor. Sr Philomena Lyons. Lisa Bell. Mandy Smyth. Fiona Sinnott.

Joan McCarthy. Georgina O'Donnell. Sinead Kelly. Deirdre Jacob. Chantal Bergeron.

Theresa Doherty. Christina Hackett. Marie Dillon. Siobhan Hynes. Sheila Lynch. Catherine Hegarty. Layla Brennan. Marie Hennessy. Gertrude Dolan. Bente Carroll. Eileen Coyne.

Bridget McFadden. Margaret Concannon. Raonaid Murray. Charlene McAulliffe. Catherine Mullins. Maura McKinney. Fiona Pender. Ms Shirley Clince. Janet Mooney. Sophie Toscan du Plantier. Belinda Pereira. Geraldine Diver. Miriam O'Donohue. Ciara Breen. Mary Callinan. Sylvia Sheilds. Bernie Sherry. Kitty Gubbins. Mandy Wong. Elizabeth Troy.

Catherine Doyle. Margaret Murphy. Sheila McDonagh. Gillian Thornton. Mary Cully. Mary Kelehan. Eileen Costello O'Shaughnessy. Marilyn Rynn. Joyce Quinn. Mary Molumby.

Sandra Tobin. Noeleen Cawley. Alison White. AnneMarie Duffin. Martina Halligan. Angela Collins. Patti Bainbridge. Patricia Murphy. Veronica Guerin. Margaret O Sullivan.

she wasn't royalty, she was a woman I cannot walk alone at night I hold my keys like claws I jump at every noise and light I cannot stop or pause My mother taught me to bite if I had to To kick and make myself difficult Because men don’t want difficult girls, And in that scenario, a difficult girl is good.

My school took us on a trip to Germany Our bus was followed by a group of men We were scolded for our shorts that night They measured our skirts every Friday then.

I must not leave my drink with a boy Even if he seemed kind or friendly I wonder why boys and men Are okay with being considered deadly But these rules are pointless, life seems to prove As even girls who lived by the rules Are robbed of their lives in brutal ways, It is how it is, our stagnant reality stays.

Sarah was every one of us Sarah did everything right Sarah did absolutely nothing at all To deserve what happened that night What could she have done in all the world To deserve what happened to her that night

They held a vigil at a bandstand Lockdown couldn’t suppress this injustice I watched the women pinned to the ground Torn apart, though none ever bared a fist I understand the times we live in I understand the dangers crowds hold But with conscience can you silence a peaceful protest Of women who are (dying) of being Told Not a month later, lockdown still intact The Prince died at home, of old age in bed Yet they gave the same message, that was that We must all grieve at home, they said. then they came in their hundreds and thousands nobody stopped or questioned a soul exceptions can be made for a beloved figure not for somebody nobody knows oh but her family knew her and her boyfriend loved her her friends will now never forget she was not loved widely, but she was loved deeply yet they couldn’t mourn their dead why was this exception accepted what separates revolt from respect ? because ‘she wasn’t royalty, she was a just a woman’ what more needs to be said — Jessica Anne Rose

History CUT AND PASTE | A Brief of the Zine As FemSoc launches its own magazine, Kate looks at the historical relationship between women, activists, and self-publishing.

Self-publishing has been around since the advent of the printing press. Marginalised people have used it to their advantage for decades, from poster-boards donned by suffragettes to wood-printed abolitionist pamphlets created by the American Anti-Slavery Society and Black Panther Party handouts. Self-publishing, in its various forms, has enabled marginalised groups throughout history to organise, communicate and be heard in ways that were prohibited by the dominant mass media. In the history of the near infinite forms of self-publishing, none has been more entangled with women and feminism than the zine.

It is difficult to pin down what exactly a zine (pronounced 'zeen') is. A small-circulation publication that can vary in length, format and subject matter; the most distinguishing characteristic of a zine is its DIY aesthetic. Traditional zines are often handwritten and illustrated by the author's own artwork or made up of words and images that have been literally cut and pasted together.

The end result is then photocopied for distribution.

The egalitarian nature of zine making appealed to the thirdwave feminists of the 1990s, but it initially had roots in the underground political and social activist publications of the '60s.

Even before they were adopted by feminist activists, zines have been inextricable from the creative endeavours of women.

The word zine is a shortened version of fan magazine – fandoms have been influencing the lexicon from as far back as the 1930s. First emerging among fans of science fiction, fanzines contained a variety of content ranging from convention reports to fanfiction.

Yes, fanfiction has been around since the 20th century! There is nothing new under the sun. The first media fanzine was published in 1967, dedicated to a then new TV show about the crew of starship boldly going where no man had gone before, and entitled Spockanalia. A great debt is owed to the original Star Trek fans for popularising the art form of the zine. But it is not to the men that this debt is owed, but rather to the women. It was the women who poured their spare time and artistic energy into creating short stories and artwork to honour their favourite show and distributed them to fellow fans, forming their own community. Fanzines are still going strong today, organised collaboratively on sites like Tumblr and Twitter, and still largely created by, and distributed to, women.

While the female Star Trek fans popularised the medium in the '60s, the riot grrrls of the '90s propelled it forward.

Emerging out of the American West Coast punk scene, the riot grrrls were angry. Angry at the rampant sexism in the punk scene, the exploitation and degradation of women; that anger fuelled an underground movement raging against a society that offered no validation of women's experience. Zines allowed a space where their voices could be heard and shared with likeminded women to be forged. Communities developed around zines as they acted as a stopgap between punk shows or meetings, sharing information and ideas and sparking debate amongst readers.

They ensured that discussion continued beyond the confines of small groups. This grassroots medium was used by women to discuss the reality of their lived experiences, covering topics ranging from body image to sexuality and gender, and from politics to music.

BECAUSE us girls crave records and books and fanzines that speak to US that WE feel included in and can understand in our own ways.

BECAUSE we wanna make it easier for girls to see/hear each other's work so that we can share strategies and criticize-applaud each other [...]

BECAUSE we are interested in creating non-hierarchical ways of being AND making music, friends, and scenes based on communication + understanding, instead of competition + good/bad categorisations [...]

BECAUSE I believe with my wholeheartmindbody that girls constitute a revolutionary soul force that can, and will change the world for real.

Developing in tandem with third-wave feminism, riot grrrl zines used the consciousnessraising method of organising and communication. Allowing their creators full access to and control over the means of production and distribution, riot grrrls followed a longer legacy of feminist selfpublishing which allowed women to circulate ideas which would not otherwise have been published.

Feminism and anticapitalism were, and continue to be, intrinsic properties of the riot grrl movement. Riot grrrls rage against the machine, championing women and centring women's rights in all of their art and political activism. Feminism became synonymous with riot grrrls and, due to their vibrant and electric zine culture, it quickly became synonymous with zines too.

As with most things borne of DIY culture, zines have become increasingly commercialised through their commodification by multinational companies. All hope is not yet lost, though.

The internet, despite its many flaws, has strengthened the idea of all-access media production and distribution which appealed to zine makers of days gone by.

Publications that originated as physical zines have been digitised and expanded their reach as a result. Archives of feminist zines have been preserved online by libraries and non-profit organisations and made available to anyone with an internet connection.

Zines can be delivered straight to your door from creators’ stores on Etsy, usually for a low price to boot.

This magazine is a zine! Albeit a higher production one than is traditional.

Despite the best attempts of corporate entities, feminist zines refuse to be sanitised and made palatable to the masses.

Despite the best attempts of corporate entities, feminist zines refuse to be sanitised and made palatable to the masses. Feminist zine culture is alive and well, even if the focus has shifted somewhat to digital distribution – adapt or die.

And yet, traditional zine culture can never truly die. As long as people continue to have ideas, make something out of those ideas with whatever materials they have to hand, and share them with others, the spirit of the original zine makers lives on. So, the next time you have something to say, create something out of it, and make other people listen.

This piece is about the danger of unsafe abortion. The art style is ugly and crude as it mirrors the dangers and 'roughness' of abortion when women are forced to do it themselves.

When safe abortion is not made available people die.

So many women have lost their lives to desperate attempts of pregnancy terminations through methods of surplus gin and wire hangers, even through physical damage of the lower abdomen.

— Amy Craven

Velvet Lonely is the egg cracked moon Spilling yoke on velvet.

Not even burned men can find you.

You are safe because you are Dripping battery acid all over the old Carpet where patterns of fire and starlight Hum in the crevices of your mind Deafening those in velvet suits.

I am terribly sorry for the state Of your mangled spirit; for the pain In your chest and the crouch it accompanies.

There is no point in tasting avoidance When you are called to entertain A pair of clean brown shoes Or torn up tracksuits because you Make dreams of the undesirable.

I will tell you I am sorry for the Way we wail and screech and Cry out for the craters of our Tender galaxy or the star-crusted lie We tell ourselves to keep us from the reckoning.

I find acceptance begins with a Tumultuous somersault into the pit Of your power where velvet men Burn.

Burn.

Burn.

— L.

NEW NEW YEAR YEAR TAROT TAROT READING READING Olivia dives into her tarot deck to see what our readers learned from 2021, as well as what 2022 has in store Happy New Year! A time of new beginnings and renewed freshness. Here is a sneak peek into the year ahead to enlighten you on your spiritual path.

To get started, meditate on the cards in the image below and select the pile that feels right. Then proceed to your selected pile’s reading. This is a ten-card spread, detailing the overall theme of both 2021 and 2022 for you, followed by an in-dept look at the obstacles and blessings coming your way for each quarter of 2022.

Good luck!

PILE ONE - ROSE QUARTZ Overall Theme of 2021 – The Magician A symbol of personal agency, The Magician manifests their own realities and shapes their own paths. 2021 was a favourable year for you overall. A year of achievement and developing lifelong skills to aid you on your personal journey.

The tools obtained and the seeds that have been planted in 2021 will surely come to fruition in 2022.

Overall Theme of 2022 – The Sun In 2022 you are destined for success and happiness. Although you will face obstacles, you radiate positivity which will help you overcome them. In tarot, the sun represents heat, warmth, and life-giving energy

Obstacles for Each Quarter

serves you well, but can land you in a bit of hot water during this quarter. Sometimes keeping more of an open mind instead of building up your defences can be the better strategy.

January to March – Three of Pentacles

July to September – King of Wands

The Three of Pentacles symbolises teamwork and collaboration. You might find this challenging during this time and may prefer to work alone.

However, allowing involvement from others could open new possibilities.

As everyone will have different skills and outlooks that could open you up to new possibilities. Creating an environment for open collaboration could work in your favour. Learn to trust others to ease your workload and add much needed variety.

The King of Wands is an effective and decisive leader, albeit quick to anger. Tempers might flare during this quarter. By encouraging others and remembering everyone is at different stages and levels might help you keep your patience with others.

The sun will fill you with vitality so you can let your light shine.

April to June – Page of Cups You have a sensitive nature, an endearing trait which usually

October to November Strength (Reversed)

–

The last quarter of the year could bring a decline in your confidence levels. Self-doubt might start to creep into your mindset.

Try to not let this hold you back by keeping yourself grounded and not overworking yourself.

Blessings for Each Quarter January to March – Knight of Pentacles (Reversed) Your main focus during this time will be on your work; becoming something of a workaholic in order to achieve your goals. You are inspired and driven to achieve during this quarter.

April to June – The Hermit All the hard work you completed in the first quarter pays off here.

You find comfort in the wisdom gained, enjoying it in peaceful solitude. The Hermit represents introspection; this will bring a period of calm into your life, where you can enjoy reaching a flow state in peace.

July to September – Four of Pentacles (Reversed) Your mind has turned to securing what you already have to better prepare for the future. You aim to build your savings specifically for future endeavours. Stocking up your resources to create a more secure financial situation.

October to December – Knight of Swords For you, the end of the year will be a period of increased determination. You may become slightly restless, as you focus on your goals. However, you will be able to easily direct this extra energy into projects and achieve what you aspire to before the end of the year.

PILE TWO - AMETHYST Overall Theme of 2021 – Nine of Cups (Reversed) A fog of disillusionment clouded your judgement for most of 2021, making you blind to all the blessings you have. Something was off and you could feel it. You may have sought external validation rather than listening to your heart. You are starting to emerge from that darkness and finding more comfort in yourself.

Overall Theme of 2022 – Page of Pentacles

You may feel overwhelmed.

However, the energy from the Page of Pentacles should alleviate this burden. Stick to routines and create realistic deadlines to remove unnecessary stress.

July to September – The Sun (Reversed) The pressure of the previous quarter will fade, leaving you with abundant enthusiasm for the summer months. This enthusiasm could quickly become overconfidence and cloud your judgment, prompting you to make impractical choices.

The Page of Pentacles is studious and resourceful. You will feel a renewed interest in academics throughout the year. You will remain mostly disciplined and practical in your studies. Your ambition will get you through the long hours. You aim to set high standards for yourself; commitment to routines will be important to you. This dedication will pay off in the long run.

October to December – Four of Cups (Reversed)

Obstacles for Each Quarter

Blessings for Each Quarter

January to March – Page of Cups (Reversed)

January to March – Queen of Wands

Feelings of rejection may arise during this time. However, to overcome this, you will transform criticism into opportunities and motivation.

When one door closes another one opens, as the saying goes.

This will be your mantra for this time, to help you release your sensitivity to perceived rejection.

The Queen of Wands is a cheerful, warm, and confident character. A social butterfly aware of her charm. She does not concern herself with those who do not warm up to her. This is the energy that you will be blessed with during the first quarter. Let yourself shine without fear.

April to June – Two of Swords (Reversed) When the Two of Swords is reversed, it can represent increased stress and pressure.

Considering this is exam season, that’s an understatement.

The enthusiasm experienced during the summer will still be prevalent towards the end of the year. You will be able to contemplate the consequences of your decision, good or bad, over the summer with an increased awareness. This is a time to reconnect with yourself.

April to June – Nine of Cups The Nine of Cups symbolises wish fulfilment. Congratulations! The stress you are under during this period comes with its rewards.

You will be satisfied with the results of your labour.

July to September – Seven of Pentacles The seeds of determination and hard work planted at the start of the year begin to pay off during the harvest period. The progress that may have felt slow will start to bring long term results and rewards. This is a good time to evaluate goals and dive deep into projects.

Obstacles for Each Quarter

Blessings for Each Quarter

January to March – Seven of Wands

January to Pentacles

You may have a hard time finding your feet at the start of the year.

Persistence could be lacking when trying to maintain your gains. Perhaps even causing you to become overly defensive.

The Ace of Pentacles signifies new beginnings, especially relating to material gains. This is the start of a new abundant future. Abundance is often connected to finances.

However, here abundance can include many things, such as opportunities, gifts, skills, and objects.

October to December – Four of Swords

April to June – Seven of Cups (Reversed)

Rest and recuperation will characterise this quarter. As the year comes to an end you will retreat to replenish yourself from the year. A sort of healing hibernation if you will.

This time could be a period where you feel completely overwhelmed, forcing you to cope via escapism.

You will have a lot of options open to you at this time which can create a very stressful environment. Decision fatigue may ensue, leading to you feeling like no decision is the best decision. Be aware of this during this time and set yourself clear goals to help you find the best outcome.

PILE THREE - SELENITE Overall Theme of 2021 – Eight of Swords (Reversed) For you, 2021 was a year of release and freedom from limitations. You took the reigns on your life and created new opportunities for yourself. This increased accountability allowed you to explore independence, gaining valuable skills that will aid you in the coming year.

Overall Theme of 2022 – Temperance This coming year will bring a calmness that was lacking in 2021.

The Temperance card signifies peace, alignment, and moderation. You will have an ability to combine different elements of your life, to achieve a more harmonious balance. This slower pace will allow you to feel gratitude towards your achievements and personal qualities.

July to September – Strength (Reversed) The summer months of the year could bring a decline in your confidence levels. Self-doubt might start to creep into your mindset. Try to not let this hold you back by checking in with yourself and not pushing yourself too far.

October to December –Hight Priestess (Reversed) You could be ignoring your intuition during the last few months of the year. Your inner voice is conveying messages constantly, these messages may get muddled up during this time.

Slowing down and connecting with yourself can help this process.

March

–

Ace

of

April to June – Three of Swords (Reversed) This quarter brings a helping hand, alleviating something that has been weighing heavily on your heart and allowing you to forgive and heal. A reconciliation could occur around this time.

Seeking help will speed up this healing process for you.

July to September – Ten of Cups You will experience an increased harmony in your home and family life during this quarter.

All your metaphorical cups are full.

Leading to emotional fulfilment; magic and beauty will fill your life during the summer months.

October to December – Ace of Cups A new period of emotional fulfilment will begin at this time. A new awakening if you will. A fresh energy will be seen in all your relationships, creating fresh starts.

Release all the negative emotions that you might have held onto throughout the year and forgive yourself.

This period will aid you in that release, so you can shed your old skin and begin this new stage of your life.

A Letter to my Younger Self Darling, I wish I could tell you right now, that this is not going to be the end for you.

Little child, as I guide you; take my hand, come to me, I will look after you.

I wish you can see the wonders that you will achieve at twenty-one.

The amount of love and support that you have from friends and lovers.

Darling girl, you do not know the places you are going to.

You will move out of the house that causes you pain.

There will be no more abuse, there will be no more trauma.

You will be living a life of wonders.

Little child, you are not moving back into that house.

You are far away.

You will not be considered opinionated, instead, you are considered brave.

The bravery that you will have is spectacular, and something that you never thought you would have before.

Little girl, you are loved by many, you are wanted by many.

And I wished I could have told you this six years ago.

That the world you are currently living in is constricted, but the world that you will move to is vast.

You will be fighting every single day, and that fight is what makes you who you will be.

I wish I could have told you that there is nothing to be afraid of anymore, that you will escape.

I am free right now, I am flying right now.

I am reaching the sky, just like our mother would say.

Do not think this is the end, it never is.

— Imasha Costa

BATTLES -

Morgan

Lyons

Body Hair I’m supposed to hate you Fight you Rip you Razor blades Plucking Waxing You cover my legs, my face, my underarms My vulva See, look what you’ve done? You’ve made me say the word out loud Thick, course, everywhere Mornings spent in the shower shaving Afternoons tending to the bites from the blade Evenings watching commercials of other women using other razors on other bodies Smooth bodies Shiny, shimmering like marble Body hair is censored; just stroking the razor on bare skin, shaving nothing, shaving for the sake of shaving Feel smooth. Feel confident. The cuts? The ingrown hairs, the razor burn? No, don’t feel any of those. What are you doing? Stop making mistakes. Poor thing, you don’t even know how to tend to your own body. Rewatch our ad, reinvest in our products. You must be doing something wrong.

Musn’t you?

Body hair I run my hands over you Fuzz lining my calves Tickling my fingers Covering me, all over me, protecting me Protecting me? Am I supposed to say that to you? Am I supposed to feel you?

See you? Sticking out from the bottom of my bikini, clinging to my underarms, even my face Great. Now I have to get rid of my moustache too? Where does it end?

When can I stop carving, stop fixing, stop adjusting?

Body hair I run my hands over you Fuzz lining my calves Tickling my fingers Covering me, all over me, protecting me Protecting me? Am I supposed to say that to you? Am I supposed to feel you?

See you? Sticking out from the bottom of my bikini, clinging to my underarms, even my face Great. Now I have to get rid of my moustache too? Where does it end?

When can I stop carving, stop fixing, stop adjusting?

Body hair I am so tired My hands are tired My mind is tired My money, my free time, all tired, all spent And the result? Bare. Uncovered, unprotected, unsure Unsure of my enemy Body hair, I have battled you for so long. Punished you for existing. Hair of my body… my body.

You don’t belong to the razor.

You grow. Not cautiously, as I had always hoped you would. You grow steadily, determined, shamelessly. You have not seen the magazines, heard the comments, internalized the embarrassment You do not know the concept of beauty Or perhaps you do, perhaps you could teach it to me? Perhaps you can show me a different kind of beautiful, the bespoke type, the type no one can sell you Stubble, moustache, pubic curls Maybe you can teach me that the word vulva is a word of power A word of knowledge of my own body Maybe you can show me how to spend mornings enjoying warm water against healed skin, afternoons using my hairy legs to run freely, evenings drawing women with hair around their nipples, smiling and living their most authentic lives Maybe, Body Hair, you and I were meant to be

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